Singapore Arts Fest program booklet

8/7/2019 Singapore Arts Fest program booklet

1/40

WhenaGrayTaiwaneseCowStretched

13May 17MayFestivalVillage

Ishinha(Japan)

7.15pm

2hrs(nointermission)

$60,$45

PerformedinJapanesewithEnglishsurtitles

WriteranddirectorYukichiMatsumotoandhisawardwinningcompanyIshinhacreateanepicstoryaboutaSeaRoadlinkingupthecultural,

socialandaesthetichistoriesofthepeoplesoftheislandsborderingthePacificRim:fromtheSouthSeaislandsthroughSoutheastAsiaupto

TaiwanendinginJapan.

Thisexquisiteshowwillbetimedpreciselytopermeatethespectaculartransitionbetweendaylight,sunset,duskandnight.Matsumotowants

tocreateanewformofdrama,adramaofthefutureortomorrowwherethecompanywantstoshowthingsorconceptsthataredifficultor

impossibletorepresentintermsofshapes.Hesaid,asIstudiedmoreabouttheseaanditspeople,Icametorealizethatthereweremore

variedpeoplesandlanguagesthanonthemaincontinent:IthoughtifImadetheseathemainstageIcouldtellastoryofAsianoonehas

donebefore.

HehasthereforecreatedahypotheticalJapancurrentorsocalledBlackCurrenttolinktheindependentandscatteredislandsonwhich

variousepisodesofthepeoplewhotravelonthisSeaRoadcanberepresented.Theytelltheirstoriesonebyonethereisnoonehero;

everyoneisastar.ItisnottheromanticormythicalSeaRoadintravelerstalesthatheisinterestedin,buta20thcenturyvisualizationwith

aperspectivethatisofonestandingontheearthandnotfromphotographsormapsthattakeina360degreeviewfromthesky.The

performanceshowsconceptsorthingsthatareimpossibletograsporrepresentintermsofknownconcreteshapesorobjectifyingstrategies.

Ishinhaisfamedforcreatingunforgettabletheatremeticulouslyplannedoutdoorstages,uniquebirdseyeviews,unconventional

choreographyplayedoutonepicscale.UniquetooistheirvocalsoundscapeJanJanOperalanguage,akindofstreetrapmusicandthe

streetlanguageofOsakawherethecompanywasborn.

TheperformanceopenstheFestivalandnotonlymarksIshinhasfirstappearanceinSingapore,butalsoitsfirstshowingoutsideofJapan.Not

to

be

missed!

Postshowdialogueon13and14May.


2/40

Crack

14May 15MaySchoolofTheArtsDramaTheatre

ArcoRenz/KobaltWorks&AmritaPerformingArts(Belgium/Germany,Cambodia)

ChoreographedbyArcoRenzincollaborationwiththedancers(fromAmritaPerformingArts)

14May,8pm 15May,3pm

60mins

(no

intermission)

$45,$20

TheimagetheworldhasofCambodiaiscloselyassociatedwiththeatrocitiesofthePolPotera.However,acloserlookrevealsadifferent

story.TodaysCambodiaconsistsofayoungandvibrantsociety,strugglingtoliftitselffromisolationintothecontemporaryworld,drivenby

itsyouthfulpopulation,eagertomoveforwardwhilestillcomingtotermswiththetragiclegacyithasinherited. Theirpreoccupationsnow

arewiththestrugglesofthepresentwinningoverwidespreadpoverty,economicexploitation,corruptionandlackofeducation.Justlikeany

otherprogressiveAsianpopulace,theirhopes,dreams,strugglesanddesiresunifytheminaheadyrushtowardsthecomplexityofthemodern

21stcenturyworld.

ThisnewcommissionfortheSingaporeArtsFestivalseesBrusselsbasedchoreographerArcoRenzworkingcloselywithdancersfromPhnom

PenhbasedAmritaPerformingArtstophysicallytranslatetheexperienceofthesenewconditionsintothedanceparametersoftime,space

andphysicalenergy.Exploringthethemesofemergencefromisolationtowardsintegrationinthecomplexitiesofthecontemporaryworld,

thisworkascribesanddescribesthroughcontemporarydance,musicandperformance,thezeitgeistofatransformedcountry.Italso

contemplatestherelationshipbetweentraditionandthecontemporary,setagainstthebackdropofthepastandthecurrentsocialmilieu.

ArcoRenzcreatesworkthatexploresemotionalabstractionsthroughintensephysicalitycoupledwithlight,soundandmultimedia.Inhis

creations,heconsistentlybroadenstheprinciplesofabstractdramaturgytolight,soundandmultimediainterfaces.AcentralfocuswithinArco

RenzsspecificchoreographicidiomisthecomparativestudyofvariousAsiantraditionalperformingarts.

AmritaPerformingArtsisanInternationalNGObasedinPhnomPenh.Itwasfoundedin2003withamissiontohelppreservethewide

spectrumofCambodiastraditionalperformingartsthroughaprogramthatemphasizednationalcapacitybuildinginallaspectsofproduction

management.Asareflectionofobservedshiftsinthecountrysartisticclimate,itsmissionhasevolvedtofocusmoreoncontemporary

creativityintheatreanddance.Sinceitsinceptionin2003,AmritahasproducedfullscaleproductionsofCambodiandanceandtheaterfor

performancesinCambodiaaswellasextensivetoursthroughoutAsia,theUnitedStates,EuropeandAustralia.

KobaltWorks(Brussels,Belgium)istheproductionorganizationfoundedbychoreographeranddancerArcoRenz.Sincetheestablishmentof

KobaltWorksin2000,ArcoRenzhasdevelopedasuccessfulartistictrack,creatingandtouringseveralperformancesaswellasdeveloping

transculturalandmultidisciplinaryresearchandexchangeprograms.ArcoRenzproductionsrevealanintensephysicalityandexplorethe

emotionalforceofabstraction.InhiscreationsheconsistentlybroadenstheprinciplesofAbstractDramaturgytolight,soundandmultimedia

interfaces.AcentralfocuswithinArcoRenzspecificchoreographicidiomisalsothecomparativestudyofvariousAsiantraditionalperforming

arts.

Postshowdialogueaftereveryperformance.

CommissionedfortheSingaporeArtsFestival,withsupportfromGoetheInstituteSoutheastAsia.


3/40

OutofContextforPina

14May 15MayEsplanadeTheatre

lesballetsCdelaB(Belgium)

8pm

85mins(nointermission)

$80,$60,$40,$20

Dancedandcreatedby ElieTass,EmileJosse,HyoSeungYe,MathieuDesseigneRavel,MlanieLomoff,RomeuRuna,RosalbaTorres

Guerrero,RossMcCormack

Conceptanddirection AlainPlatel

Production lesballetsCdelaB

Whosaysaproductionhastohaveembellishedsets,elaboratemusicandextravagantcostumestobeextraordinary?

Withamottoofnothinguptheirsleeves,andnothingintheirpockets,directorAlainPlatelaimstoreturntotheveryfundamentalsofdance:

thehumanbody.OutofContextstartsfromabeliefthatthehumanbodyistheforemostemotionaltool,acarrierofmemories,andraw

materialforlivingfineart.Hethendiscardsalmosteverythingelse,sothatwhiledanceisoftentiedtoapieceofmusicandsubjecttoits

swellsandrhythms,OutofContextdefieseventhisbynotbeingamusicdrivenpiece.Also,ithasnosetatall,norcostumesotherthanthose

whichthedancerscanfitintheirsuitcases.

Undertheselimitations,theninedancersarerevealedtobetruemasters.Theirindisputableskillinusingthetoolswhicharetheirbodiesis

immediatelymanifestinallsortsofweird,wonderfulandoftenwhimsicalways,andnowonder,sinceeverysingledancerisanimpressive

figurewhohastravelledandworkedwithPlatelthroughmanyyearsandinmanycountries.Meanwhile,Platelspartintheperformanceis

creatinganonstagedialoguebetweendirectoranddancers,reflectingtheobsessionthatisthenatureofthisrelationship.Theshowasks

questionsofthem,andtheresultisintimate,inviting,captivatingandoftensurprising,muchlessoutofcontextthanthetitlewouldsuggest.

OutofContextisadancededicationtothelateandgreatGermanchoreographerPinaBausch,whohelpedredefineandliberate

contemporarymovementandpresidedatthebirthofDanceTheatre,aswellasbeingPlatelsfriendandgreatinspiration.Whilenotadirect

recreationofBauschsworkorstyle,thisproductioncontainstheessentialelementsthatmadehersuchaforce:emotion,humour,joyof

dancing,andcloseattentiontotheuniquequalitiesofeachdancer.HavingcapturedaudiencesinEurope,Americaandbeyond,OutofContext

wasnamedTanzMagazinesProductionoftheYearfor2010.

lesballetsCdelaBwasfoundedin1984,evolvingintoanacclaimedartisticplatformforvariouschoreographers.Oneofitscentralprinciples

isenablingartistsfromvariousdisciplinestotakepartinadynamiccreativeprocess,whichthenincorporatesauniquemixtureofartistic

visions.Whilethismakesthecompanysstylehardtoclassify,commonfactorsofitsworksincludeanarchy,eclecticism,fiercecommitment

andincorporationofpopularculture.Itsmottoisdanceisfortheworldandtheworldisforeveryone.AlainPlatelisnoneotherthanthe

companysfounder,andalaudedcreatorofradicaldancetheatre.Hehaswonnumerousawardsforhiswork,includingtheprestigiousPrix

NouvelleRealitesTheatralesin2001fromtheEuropeanUnion.



4/40

AcademyofAncientMusicandSumiJo(UK/Korea)

EsplanadeConcertHall

16May

7.30pm

$150,$120,$80,$50,$20

HANDEL ConcertoGrossoOp.3No.2

VIVALDI NullainMondaPax

HANDEL TornamiavagheggiarfromAlcina

ALBINONI Concertofor2Oboes

HANDEL Sonataa5

VIVALDI Sposa,sonDisprezzatafromBajazet

PURCELL TheFairyQueen:InstrumentalSuite

PURCELL MusicforaWhile

HANDEL LettheBrightSeraphimfromSamson

HANDEL ConcertoGrossoOp.3No.5

VIVALDI Agitata,dadueventifromGriselda

HANDEL ArrivaloftheQueenofShebafromSolomon

Thoughartissaidtobeimmortal,somehavetriedtoforcefaceliftsoneventhegreatclassics.Backin1973,musicbyBach,Handel,HaydnandMozart

wasplayedinamodernstyle:theinstruments,thepitch,thenumberofplayers,andtheveryessenceandspiritoftheperformanceshadallchanged

dramaticallysincethecomposerslifetimes.Thoughthiscreatedabrandnewpieceofmusicwhichcouldoftenbegood,whatofthemusicasthe

composeroriginallyintendedit?

TheAcademyofAncientMusic(AAM)keepsoldmusicinastateofeternalfreshnessnotbycosmeticchanges,butbyeffectivelyturningbackthe

clockactivelyfindingoutmoreabouttheancientcomposersoriginalintentionsandgettingbacktothestyleinwhichmusicwasoriginally

performed.

Inthespiritofreturningtothatstyle,ChristopherHogwood,founderoftheAAM,usedspecialperiodinstrumentsdatingfromthetimewhenthe

musicwascomposed. Stringedinstrumentswerestrungwithanimalgut,notsteel.Thetrumpetshadnovalves.Theviolinsandviolasdidnthavechin

rests,andthecellistsgrippedtheirinstrumentsbetweentheirlegsratherthanrestingthemonthefloor,allcontributingtowhytheAAMhasbeen

called

a

superb

period

instrument

band.

But

it

wasnt

just

the

instruments

or

the

sound

of

the

music

which

had

been

trimmed

to

a

perfect

purity;

centuriesofconventionwerecutawayandbaroqueandclassicalmasterworkswereheardanew.AAMperformanceswerefullofenergyandpassion

andjoy,asreviewersdeclaredthattheirworkblow(s)centuriesoflibrarydustoffthepiecestheyplay.Musicloversworldwidewereelectrified,and

oneoftheworldsgreatorchestraswasborn.

Forthistour,theAAMwillpresentapowerfulprogrammeunderthemasterfuldirectionofitsMusicDirectorRichardEgarrtheleadingandmulti

awardwinningearlymusicspecialistwhoisnowsuccessortoHogwoodslegacy.EgarrhasbeenhailedastheBernsteinofearlyMusic,andhis

collaborationwithAAMsmusicianssaidtobeofanimpeccablyhighorder,amongotherextravagantcompliments.InhisfirstfouryearsasMusic

DirectorhisrecordingswiththeorchestrahavewontheEdison,GramophoneandMIDEMAwards;andhehasdirectedhundredsofperformances

acrossfourcontinents.

TheAAMsentrancingmusicwillbefurtherliftedbyoneoftheworldsmostsoughtaftersopranos.TheincomparableSumiJohasperformedasa

concertartistandoperasingerthroughoutEurope,AmericaandAsia.Shehasperformedseveralfineoperaticrolessuchashercriticallyacclaimed

QueenoftheNightinTheMagicFlute,aswellasperformingatnumerousgalasincludingfortheWorldCup.Sumihasastringofbestsellingrecordings

tohername,andhaswonacollectionofawards,includingbeingelectedasArtistforPeaceforUNESCOin2003.

FeelcenturiesyoungerastheAAMandSumiJotransportyoubacktoabygoneerawhenthelineupofVivaldi,Handel,Bach,Purcell,Albinoniand

Corellihadfreshlycompletedtheirworks,andfallinlovewiththeorchestrawhichdoesnotsimplyseektorevolutionizetheclassics,butpresentthe

pristineforminwhichtheircomposersintendedthemtobe.



5/40

FlipBook

16May 17MayDramaCentreTheatre

BorisCharmatz/Musedeladanse(France)

8pm


$60,$40,$20

Thisprojectisachoreographicworkthathasbeenandcanbeperformedbystudentsandnondancers(RomanPhoto)aswellasbyformer

dancersoftheMerceCuninghamDanceCompany(50ansdedanse).

AfterstudyingattheEcoledeDansedel'OpradeParisandattheConservatoireNationalSuprieurdeMusiqueetdeDansedeLyon,Boris

CharmatzwasengagedbyRgineChopinottodanceAna(1990)andSaintGeorges(1991).In1992,hewasaskedbyOdileDuboctojoinher

companyCONTREJOURtodance7jours/7villes(1992),ProjetdelaMatire(1993)andTroisBolros(1996).Healsotookpartinthepremier

ofKdeE,choreographedbyOliviaGrandvilleandXavierMarchand(1993).

BorisCharmatzcofoundedEdnaAssociationwithDimitriChamblasin1992.Followingthepremieresofworksthepairchoreographed

together,braslecorps(1993)andLesDisparates(1994),Charmatzbegancreatinghisownworks.FromAattenentionon(1996)toLeve

desconflits(2010)hepresentedaseriesofhighlymemorablepieces.

Heregularlytakespartinimprovisationaleventsandcontinuestopursuehisperformingcareer.From2002,andforaperiodofthreeyears,he

wasresearcherandcreatorinresidenceattheCentreNationaldelaDanseinPantin.Aspartofthishewasdevelopingthe"BOCAL"project,a

nomadicandprovisionalschool(orperhapsmorearesearchgroup,drivenbyanideaofaschoolforexploringthemesindepth)whichbrought

together15studentsfromdifferentbackgroundsfromJuly2003toJuly2004.HehascowrittenabookwithIsabelleLaunay:Entretenir/

proposd'unedansecontemporaine(publishedjointlybytheCentreNationaldelaDanseandLesPressesduRel).HisnewbookJesuisune

colewaspublishedin2009byLesPrairiesOrdinaires.

CurrentlyBorisCharmatzisthedirectorattheCentrechorgraphiquenationaldeRennesetdeBretagnewhichhetransformedintoaMuse

deladanseDancingMuseum.

With:FranoisChaignaud,BorisCharmatz,RaphalleDelaunay,ChristopheIves,MarlneMonteiroFreitas,OliviaGrandville

Sound:PascalQuneauLight:YvesGodinLighttechnician:ArnaudLavisse

Production:Musedeladanse/CentrechorgraphiquenationaldeRennesetdeBretagnehttp://www.museedeladanse.org

http://www.borischarmatz.org



6/40

AcademyofAncientMusic(UK)

17MayEsplanadeConcertHall

7.30pm

$120,$80,$50,$20

HANDEL Overture:Saul

CORELLI ConcertoGrossoOp.6No.1

HANDEL OrganConcertoOp.4No.6

BACH ConcertoforViolin&Oboe

PURCELL ChaconyinGminor

VIVALDI BassoonConcertoinDminor

HANDEL OrganConcertoOp.4No.5

BACH SuiteNo.1inCmajor

Thoughartissaidtobeimmortal,somehavetriedtoforcefaceliftsoneventhegreatclassics.Backin1973,musicbyBach,Handel,HaydnandMozart

wasplayedinamodernstyle:theinstruments,thepitch,thenumberofplayers,andtheveryessenceandspiritoftheperformanceshadallchanged

dramaticallysincethecomposerslifetimes.Thoughthiscreatedabrandnewpieceofmusicwhichcouldoftenbegood,whatofthemusicasthe

composeroriginallyintendedit?

TheAcademyofAncientMusic(AAM)keepsoldmusicinastateofeternalfreshnessnotbycosmeticchanges,butbyeffectivelyturningbackthe

clockactivelyfindingoutmoreabouttheancientcomposersoriginalintentionsandgettingbacktothestyleinwhichmusicwasoriginally

performed.

Inthespiritofreturningtothatstyle,ChristopherHogwood,founderoftheAAM,usedspecialperiodinstrumentsdatingfromthetimewhenthe

musicwascomposed. Stringedinstrumentswerestrungwithanimalgut,notsteel.Thetrumpetshadnovalves.Theviolinsandviolasdidnthavechin

rests,andthecellistsgrippedtheirinstrumentsbetweentheirlegsratherthanrestingthemonthefloor,allcontributingtowhytheAAMhasbeen

calledasuperbperiodinstrumentband. Butitwasntjusttheinstrumentsorthesoundofthemusicwhichhadbeentrimmedtoaperfectpurity;

centuriesofconventionwerecutawayandbaroqueandclassicalmasterworkswereheardanew.AAMperformanceswerefullofenergyandpassion

andjoy,asreviewersdeclaredthattheirworkblow(s)centuriesoflibrarydustoffthepiecestheyplay.Musicloversworldwidewereelectrified,and

oneoftheworldsgreatorchestraswasborn.

Forthistour,theAAMwillpresentapowerfulprogrammeunderthemasterfuldirectionofitsMusicDirectorRichardEgarrtheleadingandmulti

awardwinningearlymusicspecialistwhoisnowsuccessortoHogwoodslegacy.EgarrhasbeenhailedastheBernsteinofearlyMusic,andhis

collaborationwithAAMsmusicianssaidtobeofanimpeccablyhighorder,amongotherextravagantcompliments.InhisfirstfouryearsasMusic

DirectorhisrecordingswiththeorchestrahavewontheEdison,GramophoneandMIDEMAwards;andhehasdirectedhundredsofperformances

acrossfourcontinents.

TheAAMsentrancingmusicwillbefurtherliftedbyoneoftheworldsmostsoughtaftersopranos.TheincomparableSumiJohasperformedasa

concertartistandoperasingerthroughoutEurope,AmericaandAsia.Shehasperformedseveralfineoperaticrolessuchashercriticallyacclaimed

QueenoftheNightinTheMagicFlute,aswellasperformingatnumerousgalasincludingfortheWorldCup.Sumihasastringofbestsellingrecordings

tohername,andhaswonacollectionofawards,includingbeingelectedasArtistforPeaceforUNESCOin2003.

FeelcenturiesyoungerastheAAMandSumiJotransportyoubacktoabygoneerawhenthelineupofVivaldi,Handel,Bach,Purcell,Albinoniand

Corellihadfreshlycompletedtheirworks,andfallinlovewiththeorchestrawhichdoesnotsimplyseektorevolutionizetheclassics,butpresentthe

pristineforminwhichtheircomposersintendedthemtobe.

Postshowdialogueaftereveryperformance. PreshowtalkinEsplanadeConcertHallat5pmon17Mayonly.


7/40

The1955BalingTalks

18May 19MaySchooloftheArtsExhibitionGallery

FiveArtsCentre(Malaysia/Singapore)

7.30pm

150mins(withintermission)

$20

Thedatesare28and29December1955,whentherevolutionarywarnowknownastheMalayanEmergencyhasbeengoingonforsevenlong

years. InasimpleschoolroominBaling,Kedah,apivotalmomentofMalayanMalaysianSingaporeanhistoryisplayingout:thetalkstofinally

bringanendtothewar.

RelivetheheateddebatesandshrewdpoliticalmaneuveringsofMalayanChiefMinisterTunkuAbdulRahman,ChiefMinisterofSingapore

DavidMarshallandChinPengoftheCommunistPartyofMalayainThe1955BalingTalks.Experiencetheclashofwillsandimpassioned

debateonissuesthatstillresonatewithinandbetweenSingapore&Malaysiatodaynotionsofnation,loyalty,terrorism,reconciliation,

surrenderandindependence,bluntlyexpressedbyleadersatthehighestpoliticallevel.

Foursessions,eachwithadifferentsetofreaderperformersfrombothsidesoftheCauseway,includingtheatre&performancepractitioners,

politicians,civilsocietyleaders,thelegalfraternity,andjournalists,willreadthecompletetranscriptsofthetalks.Previousstagingsofthis

piecehavebeencelebratedformakinghistorycompellingtoevenblasyouthaudiences,soexpectarivetingandenlighteningexperience.Go

onajourneybackintime,tothetwodaysthatchangedthecourseofhistory:The1955BalingTalks.

ThisuniquetheatreexperiencepresentedbyFiveArtsCentrepushestheboundariesofperformanceasweknowit,inlinewiththecompanys

boldtradition.FiveArtsCentreisacollectiveofartistsandproducersdedicatedtogeneratingalternativeartformsandimagesinthe

Malaysiancreativeenvironment,withascopeofworkincludingtheatre,dance,music,visualartsandyoungpeoplestheatre.Sinceitwas

formedin1984,FiveArtsCentrehasbeencommittedtoarticulatingmultipleMalaysianidentitiesandchampioninglocalcreativity.Originally

foundedbylegendarytheatredirectorsChinSanSooiandKrishenJit,bothofwhohaveworkedbothinSingaporeandMalaysia,aswellas

dancerchoreographerMarionDCruz,FiveArtsCentrehasbeeninstrumentaltothegrowthoftheartsinMalaysiabycreatingexperimental

andculturalwork,aswellasprovidingplatformsforartspractitioners,andhastakenacclaimedworktoJapan,Singapore,HongKongand

beyond.



8/40

LifeandTimesEpisode1

19May 21MaySchoolofTheArtsDramaTheatre

NatureTheaterofOklahoma(USA)

7.30pm3hrs(withintermission)

$80,$50,$20

Withastunningmixofconceptualstrictnessandoverboardenjoyment,theyoungNewYorkerOffOffBroadwaycompanyNatureTheaterof

Oklahoma,underthedirectionofPavolLiskaandKellyCopper,embarkontheirepicprojectLifeandTimes.

Amusical,whichstartsoutbasedonthelifestoryofoneoftheirowncompanymembers,LifeandTimes,isthelatestinthecompanysseries

ofworksdealingwithoraltraditions.Forthisproject,directorPavolLiskaposedsounddesignerKristinWorrallaseeminglysimplequestion:

"Canyoutellmeyourlifestory?".Theresultingverbatimtranscriptofthisoriginalphoneinterviewbecamethelibrettoforamusicalunlike

anyother,asthecompanysingseverywordincludingevery"um","uh","oh"oftheoriginalphoneconversation,raisingwhatmightbe

consideredverymundaneandordinarylifetothelevelofsomethingtrulytranscendent.

Thefirstpartofaplannedseriesoften,Episode1ofLifeandTimescoversMsWorallslifestoryfrombirthto8yearsoldandfeaturesacastof

10withlivemusicalaccompaniment.

NatureTheaterofOklahomaisanOBIEawardwinningNewYorkperformancegroupunderthedirectionofPavolLiskaandKellyCopper.Since

Poetics:aballetbrut,whichwasthecompanysfirstdancepiececreatedasanensemble,NatureTheaterofOklahomahasbeendevotedto

makingtheworktheydontknowhowtomake,puttingthemselvesinimpossiblesituations,andforcingthemselvestoworkoutoftheirown

ignoranceanduneasetodevelopsomethingfreshandsurprising.Itstrivestoconstantlycreateanunsettlinglivesituationthatmakes

audiencedetachmentimpossibleanddemandstotalpresencefromeveryoneintheroom.Thecompanysrawmaterialsaretheonestheyfind

aroundthem,suchasoverheardspeech,foundspace,andobservedgesture.Bytakingsomethingseeminglysuperficialorordinary(likea

phonecall)andraisingittoanotherlevelofimportanceandmeaning,thecompanyaffectsashiftintheperceptionofeverydayrealitythatthe

audiencewilltakewiththemevenbeyondtheperformance,andintotheworldinwhichtheylive.

Since2004,NatureTheaterofOklahomahascreatedsomeofthemostnotabletheatrepiecestoemergeinrecentyearsfromNewYork.Their

piecesareunmistakableintheirmixtureofconceptualprecision,passion,andaninimitablysmart,wittyblendofcontemporaryvisualart

strategies,theatretraditionsandperformanceconventions.

TheNewYorkTimescommentedthatitsgleefullydemocraticspiritandoldfashionedshowmanshipcertainlyaimstopleaseanddoesso

quitewinningly,whiletheVillageVOICEpronouncedthatthecompanystandsonthefrontierdeployingafreshintelligence,aningenious

theatricalityandapleasinglyoddsenseofhumour.

PreshowtalkinSchoolofTheArtsTheatreat5pmon21Mayonly.


9/40

AThrowofDice


ScoredandconductedbyNitinSawhney(UK)

PerformedbySingaporeFestivalOrchestra(Singapore)

7.30pm


$100,$70,$40,$20

IntheAsianpremiereofAThrowofDicerenownedcomposerandmusicianNitinSawhneyconductshisownbandmembersandtheSingapore

FestivalOrchestrainaperformanceofhishighlyacclaimedsoundtracktothebeautifulsilentfilmclassicPrapandchaPash(AThrowofDice).

ThismarksSawhneysreturntotheSingaporeArtsFestival,afterawellreceivedturnin2010.Thisnewworkfollowsatourthathasbeento

London,Toronto,Holland,Italy,NewZealand,Chicago,DohaandSydney.

ThefilmAThrowofDiceisGermandirectorFranzOstensgreatworkinspiredbythepivotalgamblingepisodefromIndianclassicThe

Mahabharata.Ittellstheabsorbingstoryoftwokingswithapassionforgamblingandthesamewoman,whereoneofthemloseseverything

afterbeingtemptedbytheotherking;butwhenthelattersmisdeedsarerevealed,isrejuvenatedandultimatelyreunitedwiththewomanhe

loves.

In

the

archives

of

the

British

Film

Institute

for

over

70

years,

it

has

been

lovingly

restored,

a

fitting

tribute

to

the

beautifully

photographedfilm.

WithaidfromtheSingaporeFestivalOrchestraandhisversatileband,SawhneysWesternscoreartfullydovetailswiththefilmsfluiddrama.

YetitisthefiligreedEasterntouchesinthemusicthatlendssomeflavourofabygoneera.ThedirectorOstenwasaGermanwithafascination

forIndiancultureandthefilmbridgesthegapbetweentheexpressiveWeimarperiodinGermancultureandtheluxuriouslyphotographed

IndianfilmsofthesilenteraabrewthatSawhneyreflectsinthemusic.ArefDurveshsaggressivetablaplayingpropelstheactionforward;

AshwinSrinivasansvirtuosiccontrolofthebambooflutesweetenstheromancebetweentheheroKingRanjitandSunita,thepeasantwoman

hecourts.Asengrossingasthefilmis,themusicisneverrelegatedtothebackground.Audiencesherewillrelishthespecialandunique

combinationofwatchingafilmaccompaniedbyasoundtrackplayedlive!



10/40

LiandSa

20May 21MayEsplanadeTheatreStudio

BeBeing(Korea)

20May,8pm 21May,3pm


$36

ThevisuallyandaurallystunningBuddhistmusicprojectLiandSaisanenthrallingconfluenceofKoreantraditionalmusic,Buddhistchantand

dance,modernmusicperformance.Livemusicisplayed,mixedandengineeredwithelectronicsounds,againstanabsorbingbackdropof

omnipresentvideoprojections.

LiandSaisacreationbymusicandperformancecollectiveBeBeing,comprisingsomeofKoreasmostprominentandillustriousartistsin

traditionalandmodernmusic:JangYoungGyuisafamedcomposer;WonIlNa,JiYeonKoh,JoonilChoi,JiYoonChunandSeungHeeLeeare

respectedtraditionalKoreanmusicians;whileYoungHoonOhisaprestigioussoundengineer.Theyareaidedinthisprojectbyayoung

BuddhistpriestJeongGak,whoisanadvisor,aswellasperformerinthiswork.Theperformancereflectsandmirrorsamodernsensibility

informedbyakeenawarenessofartformscenturiesold,whicharereconstitutedtospeakwithacontemporaryresonance.

ThisprojectseekstounderstandtheBuddhistphilosophyembodiedinart,andreinterprettraditionalBuddhistmusicanddancefromthe

perspectiveofcontemporaryart.ThetitleLiandSareferstoDoLi(reason)andSaSang(phenomenon),whicharetwodifferentbut

complementaryapproachestoBuddhistphilosophy.Lirepresentsanintellectualwaytofindconsciousnesspurpose;Sarepresentsan

affectionatewaytohavesympathyforeverything.ThisdualityunderscoresallBuddhistritualsandmusicalpractice.

BeBeingsprocessofcreatingmusicilluminatessomeofthemagicofthisperformance.Themembersfindathemewithintherealmof

traditionalmusicandparlaythismotifintoawholesequenceofmusic,chant,imageryandrhythmsanew,interdisciplinaryartform,anda

sortoftotalartbasedonKoreantraditionalmusicandvisualarts.

LiandSamarksBeBeingsfirstcollaborationandwasfirststagedinSeoulin2008.IttouredEuropelatein2010towonderfulreviews.


PreshowtalkinEsplanadeTheatreStudioat11amon21Mayonly.


11/40

IWanttoRememberKazuoOhno(19062010)

21MayCinemaEuropa,GoldenVillageVivoCity

3pm

$12

CelebratingthelifeandworksofKazuoOhno,themanknowntohavefoundedJapaneseButoh,wepresenttwofilmsthatgiveusinsightinto

hisprofessionalandpersonallife.Hewas103andhadcontinuedtoperformbeyondhis100thyear.Whenhedances,hevitalizeshimself.An

ordinaryoldmanbecomesasomebodywhogivespowertoothers.PeoplelovetoencounterKazuobecauseofthat.Heliveslong,hemoves

peopledeeply.KazuoOhnoisanartistwhohasenlargedhumanpotential.HeestablishedtheKazuoOhnoDanceStudioin1949,andbuiltthe

Kamihoshikawastudioin1961inHodogaya,Yokohama,forthecreationandrehearsalofhischoreography.

APortraitofMrO

65mins/Japan

Director:ChiakiNagano

Shoton16mm,APortraitofMrOformspartofatrilogyoffilmsdirectedbyChiakiNaganofeaturingKazuoOhno.Filmedduringahiatusinthe

1970inwhichOhnoretiredfrompublicperformance,thistrilogywasincrediblydaringforitstime.ThefilmsfocusonOhnosimprovisational

performancesandarefullofthesensationsoftheJapaneseavantgardeartmovementatthetime.

BeautyandStrength

110mins/Japan

ThiscomprehensiveoverviewofOhno'scareerisagoodplacetobegin.Itincludesperformances,filmexcerptsandinterviews,examplesofhis

drawingsandwritings,andbiographicalinformation.Itallowsustodiscovermanythingsnotseenonstageoriginalfootageofold

performancesandbehindthescenelooksintoworkshopsandrehearsals.


12/40

IWanttoRememberPinaBausch(19402009)


6.45pm

$12

Postshowdialogueattheendofthescreening

The2filmsherereflecttheimpactofPinaBauschasadanceraswellasachoreographerwhoseworkswillgodowninhistory.Oneseesher

behindthecamerainherdirectorialdebut;whileinnecessarycontrast,theotherdocumentsherinthelastfilmsheappearsin,creatingnew

lifeforherworkthroughanewgeneration.Bauschwasconsideredoneofthemostcontroversialdancer/choreographerofherera.

Kontakthope

21:53mins/Singapore

Director:MingWong

CommissionedforSingaporeArtsFestival2011

Agroupof22dancerscomprisingofartistsandcuratorsinBerlintookpartina2daydocumentedTanztheaterworkshop,wherethey

practiceddanceroutinesfromPinaBauschsKontakthof,inwhichsimpleeverydaygesturesarechoreographedtoexploretherelationships

betweenmenandwomen,individualsandgroups,therebymirroringthevariousdynamicsamongstartistsandcuratorswhoworktogether.In

theresultingvideowork,thechoreographyextendsacrosstwodistinctwindowsofpracticeandperformance.

CastingplaysapivotalroleinKontakthof,firstcreatedbyPinaBauschin1978forTanztheaterWuppertal,thenrecastwithagroupofsenior

citizensin2000andwithteenagersin2008.ExtendingthisstrategyofcastingforhisprojectKontakthopeMingdrewthecastfromallthe

artistsandcuratorsbasedinBerlinthathehasworkedwithsincemovingthere3yearsago.Thefinalcastrevealsthenatureofhis

involvementwithandhispositioningwithinthecontemporaryartsceneinBerlin,asinfluencedbyhisownartisticandpersonalidentity.

DancingDreams

89mins/

Germany

Directors:AnneLinsel,RainerHoffmann

Asensationatthe2010BerlinFilmFestival,inDancingDreams,Bauschselects40teenagerswhohadneverevenheardofhertobepartofthe

danceperformanceKontakthof(ComfortZone).Thefilmfollowstenmonthsofrehearsalsandopeningnight,astheyoungdancersfrom

Wuppertal,anindustrialtowninGermany'sRuhrarea,wherePinaBauschandhercompanyreside,discoverBauschsgeniusandtheirown

bodies.Bauschgentlyencouragestheteenagerstobethemselvesastheyslowlytransformtheirselfconsciousattemptsatbodyexpression

tograceful,selfempoweredmovement.DancingDreamscontainsthelastoncamerainterviewwiththerenownedGermanchoreographer,

whodiedinJune2009.


13/40

SoundSystemLastDaysofMeaning

21MayFestivalVillage

NitinSawhney

11pm


$50

NitinSawhneyssensationaldrumnbass/dubstep/asianbreakbeatclubsetcreatedwavesinSingaporelastyear.Thisyearhereturnswitha

moremellowandreflective,thoughnolessexciting,setbasedonthethemesandideasfromhis9thandneweststudioalbum,LastDaysof

Meaning.

PlayedbythelegendaryactorJohnHurt,thealbumsmaincharacterDonaldMeaningisanembitteredoldman,fearfulofimmigrants,

terroristsandtheoutsideworld.Hesitsinaroomragingagainstchildhoodmemories,society,himselfandasmalltaperecordersenttohimby

hisexwife.

Thecassetterecordercontainsthesongsofthealbum:amessageofreflection,sharedmemory,empathyandultimatelyhope.Featuringan

array

of

brilliant

performances

by

singers

and

musicians

alike,

the

new

album

is

a

response

to

the

fear,

dogmatism

and

entrenchment

that

we

sometimesacquirewithage.

NitinandkeymembersofhisbandwillperformaliveDJsetthatincludestracksfromthealbumwithNitinonDJdecks,keys&guitar,Aref

Durveshontabla&dholak,AshwinSrinivasanonbansuriflute,NickiWells&TinaGraceonvocals.


14/40

Kuu(Emptiness)


Yoshito

Ohno

(Japan)

8pm


$45,$20

KuuiscreatedandperformedbyYoshitoOhno,sonofthemanwhomadethebutohdanceformaninternationalphenomenon,thelateKazuo

Ohno.Atouchingandbeautifultributetohisfather,Kuu,whichmeansemptiness,is,inYoshitossenseofit,thebody.Theideaofemptiness

resonateswiththethemesexploredintheworksbyYoshitoandhislatefatherthatofnonattachmentandfreedom.

SaidYoshito,IdecidedonKuutoexpressmybeliefthatIhavebeengivenbymany,orrather,everyonearoundme:Kuuisthebodyitself,the

ideaofemptiness.

YoshitomadehisstagedebutwithhisfatherinTheOldManandTheSeain1959,andinthatsameyearwhichmarkedthepremiereofthe

butohdancemovement,heperformedwithTatsumiHijikata,founderofbutoh,inKinjikiorForbiddenColor.AsubsequentversionofKinjiki

wasperformedbyHijikata,YoshitoandhisfatherKazuo.Yoshitohasbeenperforminginternationallysincethe1980s,andsince1986,has

directedallofKazuoOhnoscreations.In2007,YoshitowastheartisticdirectorforthegalaeventtocommemorateKazuoOhnoscentenary

anniversary.HecurrentlyheadstheKazuoOhnoDanceStudio.

Thisperformanceisanimportantdancedocumentfromakeyvoiceinbutoh,andispartoftheFestivals2011tributeprogrammetodance

greats.KuuwasfirstperformedinNewYorkin2007,anditsperformanceinSingaporemarkstheworksAsianpremiere.



15/40

AsitFades

21MayEsplanadeTheatre

T.H.EDanceCompany(Singapore)

8pm


$60,

$40,

$20

Theydreaminaworldofemotion,aworldlikeasecretgarden,hidden.

Theyshiftceaselesslybetweenlightandshadow.

Theyliveasifwithoutapast...

Whenthesceneryfadeswhatisleftbehind.isonlytheessenceoftheirdelicatebreath,fulloffantasiesragingintheunconscious.

ChoreographerKuikSweeBoonofT.H.EDanceCompanycontinueshisexplorationofthebodyandthesearchforasenseofuniquenessin

identityandtheenvironmentthroughdancingthebody.

Kuik

Swee

Boon

said,

I

believe

that

the

body

has

its

unique

qualities,

its

own

magic

if

you

will.

It

has

this

ability

to

communicate

at

a

level

whichwordsortextcannotconvey.

AsItFadesaimstocapturetheinbetweenstatesandthedynamicsoffadingandbeginninginthecontemporaryenvironment;the

transitionalpointsbetweentwoextremesfear,love,anxiety,expectations,nostalgia,unwillingnesstoletgo:alltheemotionshumans

experiencewhentheygothroughastateoftransition.

ThroughaworkshopprocessKuikhasbeenfocusingongettingdancerstoinitiatemovementfromtheirsubconsciousinordertodrawout

uniqueelementsthatmakethemstandoutasindividuals.Indoingsotheyfindandexpressthespiritofwhattheystandforasadance

companyandalsoforthisworkitself.

Thispromisestobeanothermilestoneworkfromathoughtfulandtalentedchoreographerandhiscompany.

Postshowdialogueafterperformance.

CommissionedfortheSingaporeArtsFestival

Testamenttojusthowwillingthisyoungcompanyistogetoutoftheircomfortzonesandsimplytrysomethingnew...MayoMartin,TodayOnline.


16/40

Airwaves

21May 22MaySchoolofTheArtsConcertHallTopology&Loops(Australia)21May,8pm,22May,3pm75mins(nointermission)$60,$40,$20

ThiscollaborationbetweenTopologyandLoopsisamammothretrospectiveof100yearsofkeymomentsinradiobroadcasthistory.Theymakemusicfromtheimportantspeechesofourtime,workingfromtheinherentmelodieswithinthespeeches.ThevoicesofworldleadersandcontroversialfiguresofourcenturylikeClinton,GeorgeBush,Einstein,Freud,MalcolmX,MartinLutherKing,Hitler,Gandhi,Churchill,EdwardVIIandmanyothersetcaretransformedintosong. Thisunusualperformancewillseethetextofthespeechprojectedonascreenwhilstthemusiciansimproviseamusicallayer.Thisintriguingperformancehasthesomewhatdubiousdistinctionofhavingthemostpoliticianspresentatanartseventatanyonetime!RealTime(NationalArtsMagazine)saidofAirwaves:Airwavesisabigpiece,chockerblock,amusthaveforthecollectionwhentheCDcomesout.Playitentirelyordipinandout.Dontplayitinthecarwhiledriving.Toodistracting.

Post

show

dialogue

after

every

performance.


17/40

MemoryII:Hunger2 21May 22MaySchoolofTheArtsStudioTheatre

LivingDanceStudio(China)

19pm

8hrs(nointermissionbutaudiencearefreetoenterandleavethetheatreduringtheperformance)

$45

Patrons

with

medical

conditions

are

not

advised

to

fast

ThecontentofthisnewprojectfocusesontheGreatFaminefrom19591961.

InauniquetakeontheFestivalthemeIwanttoremember,LivingDanceStudiofromChinaperformsthesecondincarnationofan8hour

piececalledMemoryII:Hunger.TheyfirstperformedMemoryIin2008,whichtouchedupontheartistsexperienceofgrowingupinthe60s

andearly70sinChina.

MemoryIIwasinspiredbythatfirstpiece,thistimeconfrontingthemonumentaleventoftheGreatFamineofChina,whichoccurredbetween

theyearsof19591961.

Inthispiece,theartistsselected1721yearoldChinesetogobacktotheirhometownstointerviewtheirowngrandparentsaboutthattime

duringtheCulturalRevolution.TheinterviewswerefilmedonDVcamerasandbothinterviewerandsubjectsfellheadlongintoafascinating

conversationthatwouldchangethemirrevocablyfromthenon.Formanyoftheordinaryelderfolkwholivedthroughthattime,itwasthe

firsttimetheywereaskedtospeakonthattimeofupheavalneedlesstosay,itwastraumatic,liberating,difficultandcomplexforthem.The

younginterviewershadnolessanintenseexperienceofconfrontingandlivingthroughthiseventvicariouslymanywhosecontemporary

experienceinprospering,modernChinawouldseemalmostthecompleteantithesisofanyexperienceofhunger,deprivationanddespair.

AllmaterialsfromtheinterviewswerecollectedandeditedintoFolkMemoryVideoFiles.InMemoryII,aMemoryRoomdisplayingthese

narrativeswillbefeatured.Concurrentwiththereplayingoftheseinterviews,theelderlyparticipantsoftheproject,willwalkuponthestage

live,reconnectingandrecreatingalinktothatpastevent50yearsago;inaperformancethatalsoimplicatesand insertsthewatching

audienceintotheeventofrememberingtheGreatFamine.Audiencestothisperformancewillbeencouragedtofastthenightbefore

attendingtheshowsothatwhentheyattendtheshowat1pm,theywillactuallyfeelwhatitisliketobehungryforthenext8hoursofthe

performance.ThisisauniquePerformanceEventforthosewhoaregameenoughtoexperiencefullyacontemporaryperspectiveofTheGreat

Famine,whichishighlyparticipativeandinteractive.

Attheendoftheshow,performersandaudiencealikewillparticipateinacommunalmealtobreakfastamealthatthecommunist

revolutionariesateasastaplediet.

TherewillalsobescreeningsofNewWorksfromChinesefilmmakerswiththemesofmemoryorseekingmemories.ZhouXuepingsfilm

StarvingVillageisaboutthelastyearsofhergrandmotherslifeandstoriesof15peoplewholivedthroughthefamine;ZhangMengqisSelf

PortraitWithThreeWomenrecountsajourneyofselfdiscoverytracingbacktohermotherandgrandmother.



18/40

Inhabitants

2429May,31may5JuneDramaCentreBlackBox

TeatrodelosSentidos(Spain/Singapore)

6.30pm,8pm&9.30pm


$40

33peoplepershow.Audiencemembershavetoarriveatthevenue30minsbeforethestartoftheperformance.Therewillbenolatecomers

entry.Audiencememberswillhavetoremovetheirfootwearfortheshowandareencouragednottobringalongbulkyitems.Foraudience12

yearsoldandabove.

Whatisacitymadeof?ThatistheessentialquestiontheBarcelonabasedtheatrecompanyaskintheirpiece.Ratherthandefiningacityvia

itsvisibleformsi.e.thelandmarkmonumentsEiffelTowerforParis,BigBenforLondon,SydneyOperaHouseforSydneyetcTeatrodelos

Sentidosexaminewhattheyconsideressentialinvisibleandtheunseen,thethreadswhichconnecttheinhabitantswitheachother,or

separates,traps,liberatesthem;threadsthatmakeavitalweavewhichconvertsthecityintoaliveorganismwithitsjoys,itshazards,its

miseries,itshopesanditsnegations.Threadsthatconnect(orseparate)peoplewiththecityspastandfuture(inhabitants).Theyaskhowthe

threadsofencountersanddisencountersareweaved?Whichpermitsonetoweaveonesowntissueorindividualstory?

WorkingwithSingaporeactors,dramaturgicalresearchandtheTeatrodelosSentidosteam,thesequestionsareasked,penetratingthesights

andsoundsofourcity,exploringtheweightoforiginalmyths,theirflavours,celebrationsandrituals.Reconstitutingthesefindingsintostories

thattaketheaudienceinto agameoflistening,ofawakeningthesenses,ofrecoveringanewawarenessofeachotherindividuallyand

collectivelywithintheinvisiblesideofSingaporehopefullytofindanotherwaytoinhabitourcity!

TeatrodelosSentidosfounderandartisticdirectorEnriqueVargassaid,Welookforstoriesthatmakeourrighttointimacyresound.Stories

thatshowustheunfinished,imperfectpointofourselveswhatislefttobeweaved.Alsoinourworkwevaluetheimportanceofwhatisleft

unsaid,unseen,unperceived,unverbalized,ofwhatisknownbyintuition,ineffable,invisible.Thesearesomeofthequestionsandreflections

withwhichweareconstructingagreatcollectivegame,agreatgamethatis,aboveall,afreeactivityfullofsensethatabsorbs,nourishesand

transformsus.GiulioBaffimaNeapolitanthinkerandwriter,saidoftheirworkthathehadnotenteredtolistentoaplaybuthehadentered

aplaytobelistened.

RosellaBattisti,LUnitaapublicationinNaples,Italywrote,JustlikeCalvinosinvisiblecities,VargasNaples(anotherperformancebasedon

thecity)hassomanyaspects,somanyrelationships,thatyouendupfeelingalittlebitlikeAliceorDantelostinthejungleofthreads,where

everybodylooksfortheirown,hopingitisnottooshort.LaRepublicasaidoftheirwork:Itsanexperiencethatplayswiththeboundariesof

fear,beautyandrisk.Toglanceintoyourdeeperselfinordertofindasolution,insteadofremainingaprisonerofhypocrisy;tryingtoinvest

onthefateoflanditself.Otherpraisesincludethistheatricalexperienceshowsusthetruebitofourcity(LaVanguardia);makesusthinkof

childrensgames,naiveityandvirginterritories(ElPunt);Excellentandseductive(Borsen);Unforgettableandpoetic(Kvallposten).

Theawardwinningtheatrecompanyiscomprisedofperformers/researchersofdiversenationalitiesandfieldsofexpertisewhoworkonthe

poeticsofthesensesandresearchintotherelationshipbetweensensorylanguage,bodymemoryandtheatre.RecentawardsincludeBest

Play2008,PittsburghPress,USA;TZRosenPublicandcriticsaward,Munich,Germany(2008);HonorAward,FestivalInternacionaldeTeatro

deValladolid(2006);MAXAwardtonewtendencies,Spain(2005).ThecompanyperformedinItaly,Spain,Denmark,Germany,USA,UK,

Holland,Switzerland,FranceandSouthAmerica. TheFestivalperformancemarksthefirstAsiancitythatthecompanywillbemakingworkin.


19/40

TheWrightBrothers

24May 25May,27May 29May(except26May)SchoolofTheArtsDramaTheatre

Written

by

David

Hastings

DirectedbyTobyHulseOxfordPlayhouse(UK 2.30pm&7.30pm60mins(nointermission)$60,$40,$20

Imaginelifewithoutplanes,phonesortelevision.From1899,WilburandOrvilleWrightstrovetoachievethefirstpoweredflight,throughtirelessstudy,experimentationandperseverance.Fouryearslater,onadesertedAmericanbeach,theychangedourworldforever.

Aninspiringstoryoftwobrotherswhotaughttheworldtofly,thisintimatebutepicadventuretakesusontheWrightspioneeringjourney,turningthedreamsoftwosmalltownbicyclerepairmenintoabrilliantreality.Thebrothersrelationship,ambitiousspiritandcommitmenttolearningareattheheartofthispowerfulandmovingstory.

WrittenbyDavidHastings,directedbyTobyHulseandproducedbyOxfordPlayhouse,TheWrightBrothersreunitesthewinningteambehindthehugelypopularOneSmallStep,whichhasentertainedaudiencesin19countriesaroundtheworld,includingSingapore. Thiscreativeteamhasreceivedpraiseforcombiningatruesenseofwonder,magicandplaywithwellresearched,historical,educationalscripts.InTheWrightBrothersinparticular,text,strongvisuals,filmandphysicalperformancesbytheactorspresentahistoricallyandscientificallyaccurateexplorationofthefirstmannedflight,evendowntoitselementsofmathematics,physicsandengineering,butinacharming,accessiblemannerthatanyonecanunderstand.Suitableforagesfrom7andabove,theshowwillinspiretheuseofdramatoexplorehistoryandscience.TherewillalsobeaSchoolResourceKitavailabletoteachersandeducators,andinteractivepostshowtalks.

Bethefirsttoexperiencethishighsoaringproduction,asTheWrightBrothersenjoysitsworldpremiererighthereintheSingaporeArtsFestival.

OxfordPlayhouseisoneoftheUK'sleadingregionaltheatres,andwasthelastEnglishtheatretobebuiltbeforeWorldWarIIin1938.AmongitsactoralumniareluminariessuchasDameJudiDench,SirIanMcKellen,RowanAtkinson,RichardBurtonandElizabethTaylor.ThetheatreaimstobeAPlayhouseForEveryone,presenting,creatingandtouringawiderangeofproductionstomoveandinspirepeopleofallages.




20/40

JavaneseMoonlightIntertwined


BedoyoDirodoMetoandAcapellaMataraman(Indonesia)

8pm


$20

InthisdoublebillofIndonesianartists,thefirsthalfoftheeveningwillseecourtdancersperformingBedoyoDirodoMeto,asacreddanceof

thehighestidealofrefinementinthecourtoftheMangkunegaranPalaceofSoloCityinCentralJava.AllBedoyodancersarepartoftheRoyal

Court,associatedwithRatuKidul,theinvisible,mythicalgoddessoftheSouthSea.

TheBedoyotraditionissoakedinritualandsymbolism.Itisnotanactiveorexpressivelymovementorienteddancethesevenmaledancers

moveinoneflowingmovementfromoneprecariousstancetoanother,theirindividualpresencefallingawaytoblendintooneharmonious

collectivemovingbodyaccompaniedby13musicians.

WahyuSantosoandDaryono,palacedancers,researchedthisancientdancefortwoyears(Wahyusresearchfocusedonthelyricpoemand

Daryonosresearchfocusedonthedance)andreconstructeditasacontemporaryperformancerecallingtheoriginalallmaledancetroupeof

the18thcentury,usingthehandwrittenaccountsdiscoveredbyISIresearcherstochoreographthisversion.

TheAcapellaMataraman,agroupofacapellamusicianactorswhoreconstructJavanesegamelanandtraditionalIndonesianmusicintoanew

andexcitingform,shalltakecentrestageinthesecondhalf.TheyweaveJavanesegamelanandtraditionalmusicfromtheIndonesian

archipelago,combinedwithacapellamusicandsoundsgeneratedtotallyfromthehumanvoice.Theyalsoborrowthetheatricalhumourofthe

JavanesefolkformwhichisplayfulandoftenmakingfunofthemselvestheMatamaranperformancepresentinganewkindofJavanese

theatricalmusicperformance,enhancedbycostumechangesandfreshinterpretationoflyricssunginvarioustonesofvoiceaformof

JavaneseFolkmusicalthatiselevatedtonewheights!

Somethingethnicthatfolkmusicfanswillnotwanttomissouton!


21/40

Internal

25May 29MaySchooloftheArtsExhibitionGallery

OntroerendGoed(Belgium)

2527May:halfhourlyfrom67.30pmand8.3010pm

28&29June:halfhourlyfrom24.30pmandhalfhourlyfrom79.30pm

25mins

$25

Containsbriefsceneofnudity,whichmaybedeemedunsuitableforyoungaudiences.

Theatreaudiencesusuallywanttofindoutmoreaboutacharacter.Butdoyoucarewhatthecharacterfindsoutaboutyou?Internalturnsthe

tablesoveradatingtable.5actorsmeet5audiencemembersinpersonataspeeddate,atwhichtheypromiseagreeable,intimate,personal

treatment.Butastheysharetheirsurprisinglypersonalstories,buildupacharmingatmosphereofconfidentialityandintimacy,andyouoffer

yourowninreturn,bepreparedtostartquestioningyourselfandwhatimpressionyouwanttogivetotheactorthatyoumayverywellfallin

lovewith.Howwillyoufeelafteryourshortmeetingcomestoanend?Internalputsparticipantsinastateofselfquestioningwhichlastslong

afterthesessionisover.

Thischarming,disarmingandsurprisingperformancehasplayedthroughoutBelgium,theNetherlandsandEnglandtoravereviews,with

invitationstoplayinvariousotherlocationsthroughoutEuropeandAmerica.

InternalisproducedinassociationwithVooruit,KCBelgi,Inkonst&RichardJordanProductionsLtd.

Ifyoueverthoughttheatrewasallaboutbrightlights,spectacularsets,showycostumes,loudactorsandhumalongshowtunes,hereis

somethingforthosewhosetastesrunalongdifferentlines.Behindthelimitedseatsofeachperformance,beyondthevelvetropeguardingthe

entranceliestheatrethatisdark,sexy,adventurousandfun.


OntroerendGoedisatheatreperformancegroup,agroupoftheatremakerswhocreatetheirplaysusingboththeatricalmeansand

performanceelements.Thegroupwantstorediscovertheintensityoftheatretogetherwiththeaudienceandconveyanimageofmodern

people,withtheircriticalapproach,senseofrelativity,imaginationandemotionality.BasictothetheatreofOntroerendGoedisfun,

clevernessandhumour,beitdark,triteorabsurd. Youtheaudience,areinvitedtobepartoftheperformance,andbetheperformance.

ThetenyearoldgroupfromBelgiumhaswonnumerousaccoladesinternationallyfortheirunconventionalwork,includingEdinburghFringe

FirstandHeraldAngelEdinburgh2009awards.ThismarksthecompanysmuchawaitedpremiereinAsia.

OntroerendGoedissupportedbyTheFlemishCommunity,TheprovinceofEastFlanders&theCityofGhent


22/40

MotherIndia21stCenturyRemixfeaturingDJTigerstyle


9pm


$30

MotherIndia21stCenturyRemix,orMI21,isadaringanddynamicliveaudio/visualprojecttorescoreandrevisualizethegroundbreaking

'tourdeforce'ofIndiancinematichistorywhichwasMotherIndia,beforealiveandastonishedaudience.

NominatedforanOscarin1957fortheBestForeignFilm,MotherIndiawasamassiveepicwhichcametosymbolisethepostcolonialIndian

psyche,asinterpretedthroughtheambitions,struggles,compassionandsheerwilltosurviveofthecentral'Mother'characterRadha.

Profoundlyinfluential,thisfilmwashighlyacclaimedforitsstunningcinematography,powerfullydramaticstorylineandindeliblesoundtrack.

Inanaudaciousexperimenttomodifythelegendarymovie,artsdevelopmentagencyKalaPhoolnowputsMotherIndiaintheadventurous

handsofDJTigerstyle,oneoftheworld'sleadingturntablistsandelectroniccomposersaswellastheformerWorldDMCandITFchampion.

ThisDJwillradicallyreinterpretthescoreinauniqueliveelectronicperformance,tocommemorateIndiaandPakistan'sIndependence.

DJTigerstylesmasterfuluseofturntablesandelectronicswillbeaccompaniedbytheprodigioustalentsofcellistMattConstantine,drummer

DavidShawandgiftedvisualeditorwithanextensivemultidisciplinaryportfolio,JoshFord.Allwillcollaboratetotransformthe1957Mother

IndiaintoMI21,afilmexperienceforacontemporaryaudience.

Calledapowerfulandmovingglimpseofachallenging,unwieldymasterpieceandthemovieexperienceofthesummer,thisperformance

presentsanextraordinaryreimaginingofanextraordinaryfilm.MotherIndiaturnedMI21willmovethemassesanewthroughitsexperimental

andspeciallycutandremixedvision,andaudiencesmaywelldecidethatMotherIndiaisonetrulyfunkymama.

KalaPhoolisoneoftheUKsleadingandlaudedartdevelopmentagencies,deliveringagamutofinnovative,excitinganddiverseartprojects

throughdifferentmediathatincludesfestivals,collaborationsandexhibitions.



23/40

DJTigerstyleShowcase

27MayFestivalVillage

11pm


$35

DJTigerstyleisanawardwinningturntablestylistandpartymusicguru.Hehasperformedhisinimitablebrandofhiphopanddrum&bass

musicatmajormusiceventsandfestivalsaroundtheworld,andproducedmusicforthelikesoficonicJapaneseanimatorsMANGA

EntertainmentaswellastheBBCsChannel4.OneofhiscareerhighlightsiscoproducingatrackfeaturingworldrenownedBritishviolinist

NigelKennedy,afamiliarnametoclassicalmusicfans.

WhatsetsDJTigerstyleapart?UnlikemostDJsandturntablists,heusesthreeturntables,twomixers,andanMPCandCDdecktocreatehis

unique,visualstyleofturntableperformance.Hecontinuestopushtheboundariesofclubandelectronicmusictodayfusinghiscuttingedge

electronicproductionstoperformlivetracksinfrontofappreciativeaudiencesroundtheworld.Fansofhismusicperformancestyle,new(and

old)clubberswholovedrumandbassandhiphopwillnotbedisappointedwhentheycatchhissetattheFestivalVillagethisyear!


24/40

Tempest:WithoutaBody

27May 28MayEsplanadeTheatre

LemiPonifasio/MAU(Samoa/NewZealand)

8pm


$80,$60,$40,$20

InTempest:WithoutABody,LemiPonifasiomakesapowerful,visuallyravishingandapocalypticresponsetothesinisterescalationofpost

9/11statepowersandtheerosionofindividualfreedoms.

InfusedwiththepotentshadowsofPaulKleesAngelusNovus,TempestinterweavesShakespeare'sTempeststoryofinstitutionalinjustice

withtheideasofItalianpoliticalphilosopherGiorgioAgamben.Theresultingworkquestionshowreadilycontemporarysocietyaccepts

practicesthathavebeenpreviouslyconsideredinhumanandexceptional.Ponifasiospowerfultheatredemandsattentionwithitsauthentic

andunprecedentedstyle,speakingofconflicts,terrorism,colonialismaswellasthehopeforalifeofdignityandrespect.

LemiPonifasiosdistinctivedancelanguageandmethodofmakingworkisshapedbyhisSamoanrootsbutcommittedtoourtime.Oneofthe

mostdistinctivechoreographersintheworldtoday,LemiPonifasio,drawsfromthenativeculturesofthePacifictocreate,likeashaman,new

symbolsthatalsospeakofourpresent.Ponifasiosuniqueworkishardtodefineinconformitywiththeparametersoftheatreanddanceof

theWest.Shunningfolklorecliches,fashionandpopculture,hisstageworksareaworldofpoetry,ceremonies,gods,animal,dance,

contemporary

theatre

and

of

civil

commitment.

LemiPonifasioattemptstoconnectthepiecesofourcontinuumthroughtheprismofanartform/performancethatispartdance,part

theatre,partoratory,partceremonyreconstitutedthroughathoroughlynewperformancelanguagerealizedforthecontemporaryage.This

isanotherperformanceelicitingapowerfulperspectiveoftheFestivaltheme,Iwanttoremember

Lightingandstagedesignplungeusintoasombredcor.Onahugesuspendedblock,nothingbutaseaoframpantred,symbolicofthe

physicalandculturaldestructionoftheMaorisbyBritishcolonists,breakstheblackimmensityinwhichadozendancers,allmen,appearwith

apresencethatissometimesghostlikeandsometimesanimalistic.Whethermovingforwardintinystepslikebustlinggeishasorslapping

theirthighsinawarlikechoreography,theirphysicalmasteryisstaggering.

Twosymbolicfiguresemergeinthemidstofthesevolatilespirits.Ontheonehand,TameIti,aMaoriactivist(whowasrecentlyreleasedon

bail),takesonalltheangerandresistanceofhistribeinaballetwhichoscillatesbetweenhakaandintimationsofvengeancewithatouchof

irony.Ontheotherhand,thereisanangelwithabrokenbodyandapairofwingsthataretoosmallwhoroamsontheplainofdesolationand

furywhileportraitsofoldwomenoftheTuhoetribeeyetheaudiencescornfullyfromabackscreen:atinyvisualjewelwithinthewhole

settingthatliberatesanindigenousvoicewhichhasbeenstifledfortoolong.(CatherineMakereel,LeSoir)

Stark,dreamyimages,slowritualisticmovementsandfleetingpresences.Severalmonklikemendressedidenticallyinblackspedaboutwith

smallsteps,slappedtheirownthighsorgesturedinpreciseunison.Ahumancreatureonallfourspacedrestlesslyinsidethebordersofacage

oflightandeventuallyvanishedintoinky,swamplikeblackness.(TheTimesUK,15August2010)

Theangelscreamsinhisimpotenceandraisesahandcoveredinblood,abaroqueappearanceinthispowerfullysolemnritual,hauntedby

spiritsfrombeyondthegrave.(LeFigaro,29January2010)

Oneofthemostastonishingworksof2010Tempest:WithoutaBodycataclysmic,primitive/elegant,andyetpeaceful.(WendyPerron,

DanceMagazine)


25/40

Re:AlmostLeftBehind

27May 28May

Thespis(Singapore)

7.30pm


TheSubstation

$16

Almostatravelogue,butnotquite.

Agroupofyoungtravellersembarkonayearlongexploration,

Likedriftwood,

Eacharepositoryofmemories,

Visitingnewplaces.

Andrevisitingoldhaunts.

Wherehavetheygone,andwhyhavetheycomeback?

Wherearetheyreturningto,andupontheirreturn,

Howwilltheychoosetoremembertheirjourneys?

Throughrecountingandretellinglivedexperiences,

newmeaningsareconstructed,

andacollectivestoryinresponseto

memories.travelling.space.home.

isrevealedinanintimate,interactivemultidisciplinaryperformanceexhibition.

14travelersreturnfromjourneyswithstorieswaitingtobetold.Throughdifferentstorytellingmethods,thismultidisciplinaryworkexplores

memory,travellingandthevoicesofagenerationoftwentysomethings.DirectedbyTanLitingandThongPeiQin,Re:AlmostLeftBehind

invitestheaudiencetodecidewhattheywanttoseeanddo,creatingtheirownmemoriesastheysojournthroughthepiecewiththe

performers.

ThisexcitingsitebasedperformanceispresentedbyThespis,anartsinterestgroupledbyadriventeamofNationalUniversityofSingapore

TheatreStudiesstudentsandalumnimemberswhoareinterestedincultivatingyoungartistsinlocaltertiaryinstitutions.Theirproductions

seektointerestandcriticallyengageaudiencesbycausingaudiencestorethinkperformanceconcepts.In2010,theyexpandedtheir

membershiptoallstudentsfromalltertiaryinstitutionsandyoungworkingadults.

ThisproductionispresentedundertheFestivalsPlatformCampus,aplatformdedicatedtobringingadeeperlevelofartisticdevelopmentto

thelocaleducationalinstitutions.TheFestivalandThespisteamwouldliketoexpresstheirappreciationtoRepublicPolytechnicandNUS

OfficeofAlumniRelationsforsupportingtheworkinprogressshowingsinDecember2010andMarch2011.


26/40

IWanttoRememberMerceCunningham(19192009)


4pm

$12

PayingtributetoMerceCunninghamwithfilmsthatbringusupclosetotheworksofMerceCunninghamembodiedinthelanguagehe

understoodbestabstract,daringandmodern.

Cunningham,theAmericanchoreographerreveredforhiscontinualreinventionofdancing,alsoworkedextensivelyinfilmandvideo,in

collaborationfirstwithCharlesAtlasandlaterwithElliotCaplan.Cunningham'sinterestincontemporarytechnologyledhimtoworkwiththe

computerprogramDanceForms,whichhehasusedinmakingallhisdancessinceTrackers(1991).In1997hebeganworkinmotioncapture

withPaulKaiserandShelleyEshkarofRiverbedMediatodevelopthedecorforBIPED,withmusicbyGavinBryars,firstperformedin1999at

ZellerbachHall,UniversityofCaliforniaatBerkeley. Cunningham'sinterestinnewmediaalsoledtothecreationofMondayswithMerce,a

webcastseries.

MercebyMercebyPaik

28mins/Korea

Director:NamJunePaik

MercebyMercebyPaikisatwoparttributetogroundbreakingpostmodernchoreographerMerceCunninghamandavantgardemaster

MarcelDuchamp.BlueStudio:FiveSegmentsisastunningworkofvideodancebyMerceCunninghamandhisthenfilmmakerinresidence,

CharlesAtlas.Paikandhiscollaboratorsquestionart,lifeandtimethroughvideo.Paik'selectronicmanipulationscausetimeandspacetobe

layeredandtransformed.Madein1978.

MerceCunningham:ALifetimeOfDance

90mins/USA

Director:CharlesAtlas

DirectorCharlesAtlas'quirkydocumentarymadein2000onquirkysubjectMerceCunninghamisarivetinginsider'slookattheenigmatic

dancerandchoreographer.Fullofhumoryetunderstated,offbeatyetcompulsivelywatchablelikeCunningham'sownchameleonstage

personality.Featuresbeautifulclipsfromoldandmorerecentdancesandanexplanationofthewayinwhichhehasandcontinuesto

revolutionizedance.


27/40

DanceShortsI:IWanttoRemember


6.45pm

80mins Postshowdialogueafterthescreening

$12

IWanttoRemember

15mins/Singapore

Director:ShermanOng


Amaninaninterrogationroomremembershistimewithhislover

whenthetwocountrieswereon.Whenthecountriesseparatein

1965,hisloverendedtheirrelationshiptofollowherfamily.He

remembershiscarefreepastwithlaughterandtenderness,

disappointmentsandsadness,butneverwithregret.

mrCOWBOY

Directors:RicAw&PokYueWeng

15mins/Singapore


Thetruthis,everyoneoutlivesanoldself,inthecourseofareasonablylonglife.SaysmrCOWBOY. OurnarrativeundertakingformrCOWBOYisdrivenbyour

wonderoftheworldofthenightwatchman.Meetlinedancing

fanaticmrCOWBOYwhohastoworkonthenightofthelargest

linedancingparty.mrCOWBOYisamelancholicexplorationof

thedeeprecessesofthehumansoul,areminderthatthe

desperatedesireforcompanionshipcanmakethemostordinary

peopledotheunimaginable.RemainingfaithfultoLucindaChilds

conceptofdoubling,ourinvestigationofher1983performance,

AvailableLightleadsustounderstandherportrayalofbeauty.In

herwords,Repetitionalwayssuggestsperfectionistzeal.This

becomesanopportunityforustotranslatedanceintofilmand

likewise,dancetranslatesfilm.

QueSeraSera

Director:VictricThng

15mins/Singapore


BasedonthesongQueSeraSera,dancersexpressthephysical

languageofthelyricsenchantingandmesmerizing.

Walkalator

5mins/HongKong

Director:AlanWong

Walkalatorrediscoversthelifeofthecitythroughagroupayoung

dancersperformingonsubwaytravelators,dealingwiththe

presentandthepast.ChoreographedbyAlanWongandVicky

Man.

HorizonofExile

22mins/UK/Spain

Director:IsabelRocamora

Iamhereseekingadirectmethodofreceptionfromthebodyoftheperformertothatoftheviewer.(IsabelRocamora)SettoasoundtrackbyJivanGasparyanandpunctuatedbyvoice

testimoniesofIraqiexiles,Horizonemployschoreographed

gesturetoconsiderissuesoflandandidentity.Thebodiesbetray

asereneviolence,travellingasthoughreleasedfrom

consciousnessorgravity,fallingandrecuperating,hauntedbyan

irrepressiblepast.HorizonofExilereceivedanIMZDanceScreen

AwardforBestScreenChoreographyin2007andaChoreography

MediaHonorsAwardatDanceCameraWest,L.A.Choreography

byIsabelRocamora.

Masterfullycrafted...theworkismagicalrealismatitsbest,an

engagingtravelogueintothepastinwhichrealityshimmerslikea

gentlemirage,whiletheactionkeepsmovingbackandforth

betweenanariddesert,geysers,asaltmarsh,andfinallyalake....

Horizonofexilecommunicatestheartistswillingnesstomove

beyondtopicality.Hervideodreamscape,whichsetsoffthe

austerephysicalbeautyofthetwowomenagainstthepoetryand

barrenlandscape,mapsoutadisquietingsiteofanxietythatis

magicallyuniversalinitsresonance(MarekBartelik,Artforum

International,NY,March2009)


28/40

IntheMiddle


FooYunYing&ZhuoZihaofromT.H.EYoungChoreographers(Singapore)

28May,8pm 29May,3pm


$16

InTheMiddle,acollaborationbetweentheSingaporeArtsFestival

andT.H.EDanceCompany,willfeaturechoreographersFooYunYing

andZhuoZihao,bothofwhomarefirstdiscoveredunderT.H.E

EmergingChoreographersin2009(achoreographicdevelopment

seriesstartedbyT.H.E'sartisticdirectorKuikSweeBoon).This

productionwillbepresentedundertheFestivalsPlatformCampus,a

platformdedicatedtobringingadeeperlevelofartisticdevelopment

tothelocaleducationalinstitutions.

Togetherwithagroupofselecteddancersfromthelocaltertiary

institutions,FooandZhuowillbroachtheintimatesubjectof

memoryitsvagueness,itssplendour,andhowitsexistenceshapes

thepresentandthefuture.

OrSoItSeems

Thisdanceexploreshowmemoriesbecomesubtlydifferenteach

timewecallthemtomindandbecomecolouredinsteadwith

elementsofthepresent.Timeneverstandsstilleveninmemories,

recollectionswither,andthepastcanneverbewhollyrestored.But

doesthatmeanthatthesechangedmemorieshavenovalue,or

shouldtheybetreatedasnewexperiencesinthemselves?

OrSoitSeemsrecreatesthedreamlikestateandsuspensionof

timethatoccurswhenweareremembering.Fromtheoutside,this

formoflookingbackintoourpastputsusinatrance,forthose

fleetingmomentsshuttingouttheworldaroundus,notfully

consciousorawareofanyexternalstimuli.Meanwhileontheinside,

theeventswerememberflashacrossourmindslikeavideo,

sometimeslogicallylinkedandsometimesinrandomsequence.

Buthoweverlongthesemomentslast,weeventuallydropoutof

themandreturntoreality.Thesebeautifulmomentsareephemeral,

andthistransienceisalsocapturedinthechoreography.

Performed

to

original

music,

this

evocative

piece

is

choreographed

byFooYunYing,anillustriousyoungdancer/choreographerand

scholarofdance.FoostudiedandperformeddanceinHongKong,

theUKandEuropewithacclaimedchoreographerssuchCheng

TsungLung(Taiwan),MuiCheukYin(HongKong),OngYongLock

(HongKong),JohnUtans(Australia),PewanChow(HongKong),Filip

VanHuffel(Belgium),JonathanLunn(UK)andMartinForsberg

(Sweden).FooalsoperformedwiththeJonathanLunnDance

Company(UK)intheirproductionReadingRoomin2008,and

workedextensivelywithSingaporesKuikSweeBoon,Artistic

DirectorofT.H.EDanceCompany.

RecapturingVague

Achildisbornwithmyopiasoseriousheisalmostblind.Yearslater,

asagrownmanandanemergingchoreographer,hetriesto

rememberhisboyhooddays,butwhathecanconjureuparenot

visualimages,butthestuffofothersenses.

RecapturingVagueisinspiredbyZhuoZihaosmissiontorecallthe

feelingofhismyopicchildhood,afeelingformedoutofsensesother

thansight.Theresultingdanceevokessomethingdiaphanous,a

sentimentofsomethingsocloseandyetsofar,akintoperceiving

withcertaintytheexistenceofsomethingthroughfrostedglass,but

notknowingwhatthesomethingisbeyondshadowsandvagueness.

RecapturingVagueisperformedbyasmallandselectteamof

dancers,accompaniedbyanoriginalsoundtrackandvisual

projections,andchoreographedbyZhuoZihao.

AfterwinningscholarshipstoandgraduatingfrombothLasalle

CollegeoftheArtsinSingaporeandtheHongKongAcademyfor

PerformingArts,Zhuohasworkedwithnumerousnotable

choreographersfromUSA,Spain,HongKongandTaiwantonamea

few.HewasalsoaresidentartisteandchoreographerwithOdyssey

DanceTheatreinSingapore,havingchoreographedworksforthem

suchasChrono.Sphere.Hischoreographyworkalsoincludescreating

piecesfortheHongKongDanceFestival2006(SiteSpecific)and

FlowingforT.H.ESecondCompany,aswellascochoreographyfor

Within.WithoutinM1FringeFest.Asadancer,Zhuoisoneofthe

foundingmembersofT.H.EDanceCompany,andhasperformedwith

thembothlocallyandoverseasinChina,Indonesia,Poland,France

andDubai.


29/40

HERstory

28May 29MaySchoolofTheArtsStudioTheatre

DramaBox(Singapore)

3pm&8pm


$36

PerformedinMandarinwithEnglishsurtitles

Whilehistoryoftencelebratesmen,HERstoryisatributetoSingaporesforgottenwomeninthe50sand60s.Inspiredbythewomenofthat

generation,OttoFongtellsthestoryofatenaciouswomanwithanunfulfilleddream.

Shewasayounggirlwithabeautifulvoiceandaloveforsinging.Embroiledinthepoliticsofthatera,thisyoungwomanwasforcedtogiveup

thechancetopursueherloveinchoralsinging,whilestrugglingtokeepherfamilytogetherduringtheyearsofturmoil.Whenthe21stcentury

arrivedandshethoughtshecouldfinallyleadanormallife,shefoundherselfinthethickofachangingworld,alongwithchangingvalues,

ethosandbeliefs.

HERstoryisdirectedbyKokHengLeun,ArtisticDirectorofDramaBox,oneofSingaporesmostprominentcontemporaryMandarintheatre

companies.DramaBoxhasareputationofhavinganacutelysensitiveunderstandingofsocialissues,whilebeingcommittedtoheightening

civicresponsibilityandsocialawarenessinamannerthatisbothentertainingandreflective.

ExpectaninsightfulandhonesttributetotheunsungheroinesofSingapore.

WrittenbyOttoFong

DirectedbyKokHengLeun

Codirector:

Dramaturg:

Cast:Lixie,TayKongHui,PeterSau

Choralsingingandmusic:LeslieLow&VivianWang

SetDesigner:HellaChan

Lighting

Designer:

Lim

Woan

Wen

SoundDesigner:JeffreyYue

CostumeDesigner:AnthonyTan

VisualMediaArtist:HanXuemei

Postshowdialogueaftereveryperformanceexcepton29May8pm.



30/40

AHeritageJourney:EleganceofNanyin


SingaporeChineseOrchestra(Singapore/China)

7.30pm


$100,$80,$60,$40,$20

ThesplendidSingaporeChineseOrchestra(SCO)presentsaworldpremiereintriguingworkwhichcelebratesandrecallstherootsofthe

SingaporeChineseHokkiens.InJune2010,MaestroTsungYehandrenownedcomposerLawWaiLunwenttoQuanzhoutoseekinspirationto

createworksshowcasingthecharmsofnanyinmusic.Thisimportantworkisajourneythatrevisitsthestartingpointofthejourneyofthe

overseasHokkienswholefttheirsouthernChinesehomelandtoseeknewlivesoverseas,particularlythosewhomadenewlivesinSingapore.

ThemusictracesTsungYehandcomposerLawspersonaljourneysthatareechoedinsoundartist,CaseyLimswords:thejourneyand

meetingthelandwheremyancestorscamefromremindedmeofmyfatherIsawmyhistory,myancestryyetinhowIlive,Iamdifferent

fromthem.yettheycreatedme.

Theworkisborneoutofthisreconnectionwithidentity,withtherootsofHokkienmusicandculture;andalsoinawaycircumscribeshowfar

ordifferentthisgenerationarenowfromtheirancestors.

Audienceswillbetreatedtoanightofuniquerepertoirecombinationsoforchestra,ensembleplaying,choralwork,andotherspecialsound

effectscouplinglivemusicwithelectronicmixingbytheSCO,QuanzhouNanyinEnsembleandSiongLengMusicalAssociation.

Postshowdialogueafterperformance.

CocommissionedandcoproducedbytheSingaporeArtsFestivalandtheSingaporeChineseOrchestra.


31/40

SoulCapture

31May 01JuneSchoolofTheArtsConcertHall

TangQuartet(Singapore)

ComposedbyHuXiaoou(China)

8pm60mins(nointermission)

$60,$40,$20

Goldartefactssymbolicofsunworship.Maskstocallupondivineforces.HypnoticmusicfromstonechimesthecultureoftheancientShu

Kingdomhasleftthearthistoryrealmawedandbreathless.

EncapsulatingthealluringmysticismandmysteryoftheeraisSoulCapture,amultidisciplinaryworkemployingfilm,musicandinstallationart

bySingapore'sclassicalfinest,T'angQuartet.

OpenyourmindandyourhearttothehauntingmusiccomposedbyawardwinningChinesecomposerHuXiaoouandfeelyourverysoulstir.


Commissioned

for

the

Singapore

Arts

Festival


32/40

AGameofYou

01June 05JuneSchooloftheArtsExhibitionGallery


13June:halfhourlyfrom6.3010pm

4&5June:halfhourlyfrom24.30pmandhalfhourlyfrom79.30pm

30mins

$25

Recommendedforages14andabove

Afundamentaldynamicofatheatreexperienceissaidtobetheexistenceofaperformerandanaudience.Butifyouareledintodifferent

roomsthatlookbothfamiliarandforeignatthesametime,andyoualwaysseemalone,whoistheperformerandwhoistheaudience

member?Issomeonewatchingyou,orareyouwatchingyourself?

AGameofYouseessevenactorscravingtospendtimewithyou,inasafespace,playingacarefulgameastheygettoknowyou,theyouthat

evenyoumaynothaveknownbefore.Beledthroughaseriesofencountersthatchallengeyourpresumptionsofidentitybothofselfand

others.Attheendofyourcuriousjourney,youmaywelldecidethatyouareboththeaudienceandperformer.Butwhatwillyoulikeorloathe

whatyouhavelearntofyourself?

Thiswinningworkpremieredin2010,andhasplayedtoglowingreviewsincountriesthroughoutEurope,includingDublin,London,Belgium

andtheNetherlands.

AGameofYouisproducedinassociationwithVooruit,KCBelgi,Inkonst,incoproductionwithBatterseaArtsCentre(BAC)&RichardJordan

ProductionsLtd.withthesupportoftheNationalTheatreStudio.


OntroerendGoedisatheatreperformancegroup,agroupoftheatremakerswhocreatetheirplaysusingboththeatricalmeansand

performanceelements.Thegroupwantstorediscovertheintensityoftheatretogetherwiththeaudienceandconveyanimageofmodern

people,withtheircriticalapproach,senseofrelativity,imaginationandemotionality.BasictothetheatreofOntroerendGoedisfun,

clevernessandhumour,beitdark,triteorabsurd. Youtheaudience,areinvitedtobepartoftheperformance,andbetheperformance.

ThetenyearoldgroupfromBelgiumhaswonnumerousaccoladesinternationallyfortheirunconventionalwork,includingEdinburghFringe

FirstandHeraldAngelEdinburgh2009awards.ThismarksthecompanysmuchawaitedpremiereinAsia.

OntroerendGoedissupportedbyTheFlemishCommunity,TheprovinceofEastFlanders&theCityofGhent


33/40

MahlerChamberOrchestrawithDanielHarding(UK)

02June 03JuneEsplanadeConcertHall

2June

BrahmsSymphonyNo.3

BrahmsSymphonyNo.4

3June

MahlerSymphonyNo.1Blumine

SelectionfromDasKnabenWunderhorn

MahlerSymphonyNo.4

7.30pm


$180,$140,$90,$50,$20

TheMahlerChamberOrchestra(MCO)isuniqueinthemusicalworldinthatitwascreatedbymusiciansin1997,togetherwithconductor

Claudio

Abbado.

Composed

of

around

40

musicians

from

20

nations,

the

orchestra

is

in

demand

all

over

the

world

playing

operas

and

concerts

andfunctionsindependentlyofexternalsponsorship.Theorchestrahasamusicianledensembleapproach,bothintheoutstandingqualityof

itsworkaswellasitsorganizationalstructure,whichenhancestheirappeal.FortheFestival,newgenerationwunderkindMusicDirectorand

PrincipalConductorDanielHardingwillfocusontheRomanticrepertoire,developinghigherlevelsofrichnessandtonalvitalityenhancedby

theirchambermusicapproach.

InkeepingwiththeFestivals themeofIwanttoremember,theMahlerprogrammehonourstheMCO'snamesake,GustavMahler,whodied

exactlyonehundredyearsagoinMay1911inVienna.ThisprogrammebringstogethertheLiedandthesymphony,thetwogenrescentral

toMahler'soutput.Thethemeof"remembrance"isalsoinherentinthismusic:Mahlerincorporateselementsoffolklore,alludingtoolder

traditions,intohiswork.Thisgestureholdstrueespeciallyforthetextsthathechoosestosettomusic:thetextsoftheLiederonthe

programme,aswellasthesopranosolointhelastmovementofthefourthsymphony,arefromDesKnabenWunderhorn,acollectionoffolk

songsfromtheMiddleAgestotheeighteenthcenturythatwaspublishedinHeidelbergbyClemensvonBrentanoandAchimvonArnimin

1805.

Inthesameway,JohannesBrahmsalsoturnedtooldermusicalformsinhiswork.Thisnotionismostapparentinthelastmovementof

Brahms'sfourthsymphony.Here,BrahmsusesathemereferencingthefinalchorusofJohannSebastianBach'sCantataBWV150,andsetsit

asaBaroqueChaccone.

Sinceitsinceptionin1997,theMCOhashadacloserelationshipwiththemusicofBrahms,andhasperformeditregularlywithgreatsuccess.

Now,theorchestraembarksforthefirsttimeonacompleteBrahmscycle,duringwhichitwilltakeallfoursymphoniesontour.Singapore

ArtsFestivalhasthehonourofhavingtheMCOpresentsymphonies3and4ofthatcycle.

TheMahlerChamberOrchestrahavewonravereviewsallovertheworld.

TheIndependentsaid,AfreshfacedaccountofMahler'sFourthSymphony...(In"DesKnabenWunderhorn")Harding'saccompaniments(are)

alwaysdelicateandpersuasive.

DanielHardingsconductingwiththeMahlerChamberOrchestrareallytakesrisksandpushessohardatthelimitofthechamberscoringit

comesclosetoexpressionism;heisofferingnewperspectiveenthused.(TheGuardian).


34/40

SINGAPORE

03June 05JuneEsplanadeTheatreStudio

TheNecessaryStage(Singapore)

3June,8pm 4June,3pm&8pm 5June,3pm


$36

TheNecessaryStage(TNS)wasformedin1987andhassincecreatedanicheintheSingaporetheatrescenebyproducingintimateand

thoughtprovokingwork.

Throughtheyears,TNShasfearlesslyengagedwithdifficultandcontroversialissueslikeHIV/AIDS,mentalillness,andtheplightofforeign

workersinSingapore.Theirdirectnessandhonestyinapproachingtheseissuesmakeforcompellingviewingtheissuesareraisedand

discussed,butneverattheexpenseofexcellent,entertainingtheatre.

ThecompanyowesmuchofitssuccesstothevisionandcollaborationofitsfounderandArtisticDirector,AlvinTan,anditsResident

Playwright,HareshSharma.Thetwohaveworkedtogetherondozensofproductions,includingthesoldoutrunsofGemukGirls(2008),Model

Citizens(2010),andOffCentre,their1993playwhichwaseventuallyselectedasaGCE'O'LevelLiteraturetext.

TNS'SINGAPOREmightseemanoverlyambitiousprojectforanyothertheatrecompany,butinthecapablehandsofTanandSharma,the

explorationofitsthemesMigration;Harmony;andIdentityishandledwithadefttouch.

SINGAPORElooksathowacountrycomesintobeing.Singapura,Temasekhowimportantisaname?TNSexaminespresentday

Singaporebybringingtolifeahostofhistoricalcharactersinrealandimaginedsituations,juxtaposedwithcontemporarycharacters.Sucha

combinationcreatesafertileenvironmentfortheimaginationtheatrethatmakespossibletheimpossible.

Thenarrativeprobesdeeplyintothehistoryofacountry,andalongtheway,itlaysbarethepsycheofthepeoplewhocallithome.Thisshow

isanexcitingmixofcontradictions:seriouslyfunny,bluntlycutting,anddeceitfullytruthful.Watchit,andseeifyoucanfindabitofyourselfin

SINGAPORE.


DirectedbyAlvinTan

WrittenbyHareshSharma

Featuringanensemblecastof

*KarenTan

*NajibSoiman

*RodneyOliveiro

*SitiKhalijahZainal

*SukaniaVenugopal

*SusanTordoff

LightingDesign:ChanSuven

MusicDesign:PhilipTan

SetDesign:VincentLim



35/40

TheConferenceoftheBirds

03June 04JuneFestivalVillage

AsdirectedbyWilliamTeoandrealizedbyJeremiahChoy(Singapore)

ProducedbyOrangedotManagement

8pm

60mins

(no

intermission)

$50,$35

TheConferenceofTheBirdsisanallegoricalpoembyFaridUddiAttaradaptedforthestagebyPeterBrookandJeanClaudeCarriere.The

birdsoftheworldembarkonajourneytoseektheirspiritualking,theSimorgh,toansweralltheirquestionsanddoubts;onlytodiscoverat

theendthattheSimorghresideswithinthemselves.

Thisstaging,realizedbydirectorJeremiahChoy,paystributetoanearlierlandmarkproduction,createdbytheatreluminarythelateWilliam

TeowhofoundedAsiainTheatreResearchCentre.Theoriginalproductionwasperformedinadisusedwarehouse20yearsago,nowthesite

oftheSingaporeRepertoryTheatre.ThisstagingfollowsWilliamTeosoriginaldirection,notonlyrecallstheworkofamuchlovedtheatre

director(departedin2001);itisalsosignificantinthatmanyactorsanddesignersworkingintheatretodaymadeastartintheircareersinthe

originalproduction.

AsiainTheatreResearchCentrecarvedoutanicheforitselfontheSingaporetheatresceneinthe80sand90s.Itwastheonlytheatregroup

inSingaporewhichblendedSoutheastAsianisedclassicalChinesetheatreandEuropeanhybridcontemporarytheatrerepresentedbyAriane

MnouchkineandPeterBrook.Theresultwasthatitsproductionshadavisualsimplicitythathadbeendescribedas"stunning"(throughits

emphasisontheuseofcoloursandtexturesinsetsandcostuming)andbyanoverallperformancequalitythatwaslikenedtoa"rhythmic

ritual".

Itwasonlythesecondtheatregrouptostageproductionsoutdoors,producingMedeainfrontoftheFortGatesatFortCanningParkin1988,

longbeforetheParkbecameafavouritevenuefortheatre.Itwasalsopossiblythefirstgrouptouseunusualspaces,stagingTheConference

oftheBirds(1991)andMacbeth(1993)inadisusedwarehouseinMerbauRoad.

AsiainTheatreinitiallygainedrenownforitsproductionsofWesternclassics,butbranchedoutlaterintostagingworksthatweregroup

researchedandwritten,suchasYearZero:TheHistoricalTragedyofCambodia(1996),ThePaintedHouse(2000),andTheNineWeavesseries

(whichwasbegunin1998).

OnthetenthanniversaryofWilliamTeospassingandthetwentiethanniversaryofthatfirstproductionofTheConferenceoftheBirds,

originalcastmemberJeremiahChoyreconstructsthatsameperformancewithacompanycomprisedofamixoforiginalcastandnew

generationofartists,reconnectingthisgenerationofperformersandaudienceswiththeworkofanimportanttheatrecompanyduringa

watershedperiodofSingaporesevolvingtheatrehistory.



36/40

2

03June 04JuneSchoolofTheArtsDramaTheatre

8pm


$45,$20

TAODanceTheater(China)

ThisChinesecompanypresents2whichisanexcavationofthecreativepotentialofthehumanbodythroughtheactofmovement.2comes

fromtheirperspectivethatrecentChinesehistoryhasdivorceditspeoplefromaconnectionwiththeirownbodies,whichshouldbeasource

ofwisdomandmemory,abridgebetweenpastandfuture.Throughrigorous,sincereexplorationofthebody,thecompanyaimstostretchthe

boundariesoftheflesh,inordertorediscoverthebodysunknownorlostpossibilities.

ThechoreographerisamemberofChinas1980sgeneration,knownforthelargestgenerationgapinChinesehistory.Hefeelsthis

generationhasexperiencedadisjunctionfromgenerationsandmemoriesbefore,fromparentsandgrandparents,fromfamilialancestorsand

artisticancestors.Fromtheperspectiveofdance,thecompanyfeelsthatmembersoftheirgenerationexperiencetheirbodiesinanentirely

differentwayfromtheirancestors,andasaresult,haveundergoneabreakfromtheircorporealmemorieslockedinsidethebodysDNA.

TAODanceTheatersperformance2isaresponsetothecurrentstateofChinascontemporaryartcultureandsocietyingeneral.The

perspectiveisthatthisgenerationsbodiesare,inthewordsofTAODanceTheater,"adriftandasaresultthebodyscreativeabilitieshave

stagnatedandlostdirection."Thechoreographercontinues,Weneglecttorecognizethatthebodyitselfisacarrierofinfinitepotential.Itis

thesourceofallwisdomandmemory,ourconnectiontoboththepastandthefuture.Atthismomentinthe21stcentury,wemustretrieve

thatlongforgottenandneglectedtrueessencethatisthebodyscreation!

2isanexcavationofthecreativeimaginationlockedinsidehumanbodies.Throughtheprocessofmakingthisduet,TAOisbreakingopen

conventionsoflifebehavioursandemotionalexpressiontoliberatetheessenceofthebodyscreativepossibilitiesandeventotranscend

them,forcinganewlevelofconsciousnessandclarityaboutthebodysmovementandexpressivecapabilities.In2,thisprocessinvolvesthe

dancershavingtounlearntheirdancetrainingandtraditions;beforecreatinganentirelynewdancevocabularytopenetratetothecoreof

theirbodyscreativeabilitieswhichistheheartofthework.TaoYe,thefounderandcreatorofTAODanceTheatre,intendstheworktospeak

abouttheselargerissuesbeyondtheworldofdance:2isaboutreconnectionwithlostmemoriesandourselves,andouridentitiesthatareat

riskofbeinglost,orbroken,inthisnewcentury.

Alreadybeinghailedasanewforceintheinternationaldancescene,TaoYeisoneofthemostexcitingnamesinmoderndancenow.TIME

OUTBeijingcallshimaforcetobereckonedwithandTheBeijingergavehimaglowingreview:Hiscreativeworkleftaudiencesblown

away.SomehavecalledhimthenextMikhailBaryshnikov.

ThisisacocommissionbytheSingaporeArtsFestivalandDansmakersAmsterdam.



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DanceShortsII:Iwanttoremember

04JuneCinemaEuropa,GoldenVillageVivoCity

4pm

80mins

$12

DanceLikeYourOldMan

10mins/Australia

Directors:GideonObarzanek&EdwinaThrosby

Producedby:ChunkyMovewithChequerboardProductions

Sixwomenimitatetheirdadsdancinginafilmaboutfathersasseen

throughtheeyesoftheirdaughters.Theseunseenmencometolife

throughthedancesandreflectionsoftheirchildren.Performers

includeMeaghanMcHenry,SaraBlack,AlexandraDillon,BecReid,

PenelopeBartlauandRosWarby.

ThefilmreceivedanominationintheMostInnovativeCategoryof

the2007DendyShortFilmAwardsattheSydneyFilmFestivaland

wontwoawardsBestDocumentaryandNovaCinemasAwardfor

EmergingAustralianFilmmakeratthe2007MelbourneInternational

FilmFestivalAwards.

TheRain

28mins/Sweden

DirectorandChoreographer:PontusLidberg

Tableausofhumanencounters,wherememoriesaremixedwith

longingforthosethathaveyettoberealized.Slowly,themovement

washesoverourcharacters,formingapatternofwhichtheyare

unawaretheyarealllinked.Theraintouchesthemall.

ThehonorarymentiongoestoPontusLidberg,whowithpassion,

precisionandathousandlitresofwaterhascreateda

cinemagraphicallyoriginalandsensualdancedrama.Jurycitation,

SpecialMentionattheGothenburgInternationalFilmFestival.

ShotonSuper16,TheRainreceivedBestFilmandBest

CinematographyAwardattheLondonDanceFilmFestival

LookingForward ManandWoman

10mins/Brazil/TheNetherlands

Director:RobertaMarques

Thisfilmisaloveletterfromamantohiswifeattheendoftheir

longlives,andsimultaneouslyaportraitofayoungercoupleatthe

beach,whereboththewavesandtimerunbackwardsinopposition

tothedriftoffate.Thesecondfilminatrilogythatplayswiththe

reversalofmovementandtimeinvideoanddancetocreatemind

bindingillusions.WithexcerptsfromthepoignantLettreD.bythe

socialphilosopherandwriterAndrGorz.ChoreographybyMichael

Shumacher,PimBoonprakobandEdersonRodriguesXavier.An

EMPACDANCEMOViESCommission2008,supportedbytheJaffe

FundforExperimentalMediaandPerformingArts Experimental

MediaandPerformingArtsCenter,RensselaerPolytechnicInstitute,

Troy,NY,USA.

Fasteners

9mins/USA

Director:MarianneM.Kim

Fasteners

is

a

portrait

of

a

single

female

split

in

two,

moving

in

and

outofmemory,fantasy,andisolation.Itisanexperimental

performancevideoinspiredbythemovementofJapaneseButohand

thewritingsofEliasCannetti.Thefilmreferencesthephenomenaof

twinlikebehaviorwithintheconfinesofimaginedroleplaying.The

conceptofreflectionisliterallyandmetaphoricallyusedasmemory

andtheportraitofasingleShesplitintwo.Performancesby

KatherineBeharandMarianneM.Kim.

Nora

32mins/SouthAfrica/USA

Directors:AllaKovganandDavidHinton

Choreographer:

Nora

Chipaumire

Thisisafilmaboutmemory.Thedancingisanenactmentof

memory,aconsequenceofmemory,oradialoguewithmemory.

(DirectorsNotes)

"[Nora]succeedsincombiningaroughpersonalnarrativewith

poetic,allusiveimagery."(NewYorkTimes)

ThefilmisbasedontruestoriesofthedancerNoraChipaumire,who

wasborninZimbabwein1965.Inthefilm,Chipaumirejourneys

throughthelandscapesandvividmemoriesofheryouth,bringing

herhistorytolifeinaswiftlymovingpoemofsoundandimage.

Muchofthemusicinthefilmwascomposedbylegendary

ZimbabweanmusicianThomasMapfumo.Thefilmreceived

AudienceFavoritehonorsattheDanceonCameraFilmFestival

2009inNewYorkCityandtheGrandPrizeattheAsolo(Italy)Film

Festival.ItscreenedasOfficialSelectionattheRotterdamFilm

FestivalandTorontoInternationalFilmFestival.


38/40

DanceShortsIII:Iwanttoremember

04JuneCinemaEuropa,GVVivoCity

6.45pm

70mins

$12

IWanttoRemember

15mins/Singapore

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Singapore Arts Fest program booklet

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